Mailing device



Nov. 8, 1955 J. o. TILLY 2,723,078

MAILING DEVICE Filed Jan. 25, 1954 U i y 30 /6 /a p Y m 14 4 49 3 6 a 25 V2 I N VENTOR J2 James QTY/1y "-4 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 8,1955

MAILING DEVICE James O. Tilly, Tulsa, Okla.

Application January 25, 1954, Serial No. 405,773

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-92.8)

This invention relates to a mailing device, and particularly to a device intended for use by the billing department of a department store or the like, although many other uses will be apparent.

The device consists primarily of a foldable sheet of paper or other suitable material provided with imperforate score lines for folding and rows of perforations defining further fold lines and tear lines. The device contemplates a folded sheet of such material bearing an itemized statement of the customers account and balance due along with a separable insert consisting of an identification statement to be returned by the customer with his remittance and a countercheck by which the customer may effect payment. The sheet (also referred to as the blank) is so designed and folded that the statement to be returned and the countercheck constitute an insert integrally joined to cover members defining amailing envelope. The arrangement is such that the billing department of the store enters the items charged, credits, and balance on a panel of the cover members and places the proper account identification on a panel of the insert, then the same is folded and sealed with the insert between outer cover members and mailed to the customer. Upon receipt by the customer he may open the outer envelope by tearing along a row of perforations and he finds his statement, return statement and a countercheck as an integral unit, whereupon he may separate the return statement and countercheck as a unit from the cover members, fill out the countercheck in payment of the balance, then fold the insert and seal the folded return piece for mailing back to the store. Preferably an outer surface of one panel of the return insert is already provided with a mailing address directing the same to the original sender.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a unitary blank capable of being folded to form an outer mailing envelope and an integrally joined but separable insert therein constituting a return mail item.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mailing device formed from a single sheet of paper or the like and providing an envelope for mailing an account statement to a customer and for returning the customers remittance, all without necessitating the provision of separate envelopes.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and useful integral folded mailing device.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a perforated and scored blank of sheet material embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank shown in Fig. 1 partially folded for mailing and just prior to sealing the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 completely sealed and ready for mailing by the store;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the insert of Figs. 1 to 3 after removal from the outer covers and sealed ready for return to the store;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 1 but showing a'modification thereof; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing the modification of Fig. 5.

The sheet of material illustrated in Fig. 1 is, as shown, preferably of generally rectangular shape and is divided into a top cover panel 2, an itemized statement panel 4, an account identification statement panel 6, and a countercheck panel 8. The panel 2 may bear suitable advertising material whereas the panel 4 is intended to be provided with an itemized statement of the customers account showing the balance due thereon. Panel 6 identifies the customers account by name and address, billing date, account number, and whatever other information is desired. Panel 8 is provided with an imprint defining a countercheck on which the customer may insert the name of his bank, the amount of the check and his signature, in the usual way.

The cover panels 2 and 4 are integrally joined along a fold line 10 which may be impressed in the paper or which may be merely identified by a printed line. Hereinafter it is intended that the terms score line or fold line be inclusive of a crease and/ or a mere printed line.

Panel 4 is joined to panel 6 along a second score line 12 but panel 6 is joined to panel 8 by a row 14 of perforations. The perforations are small and close together and define a tear line along which the panels may be readily separated in a well known manner. The panel 2 is provided with a layer of adhesive material 16 adjacent the free edge 18 of the sheet and a row 20 of perforations extends across the sheet inwardly of the edge 18 and below the adhesive material 16. The adhesive mate rial 16 is preferably of the dry type rather than a pres sure sensitive material, to prevent inadvertent adhesion. The strip 16 constitutes the usual gummed area commonly employed with conventional envelopes and the like.

In the modification of Fig. l the score line 10 is parallel to the edge 18 and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the distance between the score lines 10 and 12.

The panel 6 is provided with a row 22 of perforations parallel to and slightly below the score line 12. The panels 6 and 8 may thus be separated as a unit from the panel 4. The row 14 of perforations between panels 6 and 8 defines a perforated fold line whereby panel 8 may be folded to overlie panel 6.

The distance between score line 12 and the row 14 of perforations is preferably slightly less than the distance between score lines 10 and 12 and the distance between the row 14 of perforations and the lowermost edge 24 of the sheet is substantially equal to the distance between the row 14 of perforations and the row 22 of perforations. Thus it will be apparent that the panel 8 may be folded to overlie panel 6 and the panel 6 then folded along score line 12 to overlie panel 4, as shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter panel 2 may be folded downwardly along score line 10 (as suggested by the broken arrow of Fig. 2) to overlie superimposed panels 8, 6 and 4 and the gummed area 16 may be adhered to the outer surface of panel 6 in the area between score line 12 and the row 22 of perforations.

The countercheck panel 8 is further provided with a row 26 of perforations adjacent and parallel to but spaced from the lowermost edge 24 of the sheet and a second layer 28 of adhesive material, similar to that at 16, is provided between the edge 24 and the row 26 of perforations.

Fig. 2 shows the device in partially folded condition wherein panels 4, 6 and 8 are superimposed preparatory to sealing the device for mailing by the store. As evidenced. in, Fig. 2 the. face of panel 6 isprovided with the stores return address, which appears on that face of the panel opposite the face appearing in Fig. 1. When mailed by the store the adhesive material at 28 remains dry and is. not adhered to the panel. 6. but the. adhesive. material at 16 is dampened and secured, by adhesion, to-the area between the row 22 of perforations and. the score; line; 12 on. the. outer face of the.- panel 6. This is shown in- Fig- 3- and. it, is. contemplated that. the upper surface of panel 2 be provided, with the proper. mailing address. of. the customer whereby the device need only be placed in. the. mails for delivery to the customer. Upon: receipt by: the; customer of, the device in Fig. 3, he: may: readily open the mailing: piecebyseparating; the; outer cover of panel. 2 alongthe, row. 20; of perforations. customer may separate panels 6 and 8 from panel 4, fill out; the; countercheck, moisten: the; adhesive. material at 28 and; secure the same. to the upperedge of panel 6 immediately below the row: 22. ofperforations as. seen in. Fig. 1 whereupon: the; device will appear, in. end view as shown in. Fig. 4. It is. then. only necessary for thecustomer to place the Fig. 4 device in the mail for, return to the store.

In; the embodiment illustrated. in Fig. the panel 2 is. provided, adjacent its uppermost edge, with a row 20' of perforations spaced from the score line 10 a distancev substantially equal: to. the distance between score lines 10 and. 12' (the lower portion of Fig. 5 is identical to. corresponding portionsof Fig. 1). Thus, when folded for mailing by: the store, the row of perforations. coincides with the score. line 12- terial 16- is: securedto the outermost face of the panel 4 as indicated in Fig. 6. Clearly, the row 20' of perforations could be so. positioned as. to overlie the row. 22 of perforations, as in Fig. 3 or to fall inward between that position and the position illustrated. in Fig. 6. Furthermore, if desired, the adhesive material at 28. could be provided: immediately below the row 22 of perforations on panel 6 and/ or the row 26. of perforations. could extend across panel 6, slightly belowthe row 22 and the devicewould be usable in. exactly the same Way as heretofore described.

Many department stores customarily enclose, with their statements to the customer, copies of each individual sales slip. If the hereindisclosed device is used under such circumstances the gummed, strip or adhesive material at 16 may be omitted or merely not used and the free edge portion of the cover member 2 may be securedto the area between therow 22 ofperforations and' the fold line 12 by means, of conventional staples. Before such securement, however, the individual sales Having: thus: opened; the; mailing: piece, theand: the adhesive ma.--

slips may be inserted between the removable insert disclosed and the cover member 4 with their edges extending to the fold line 12. Thus, by stapling the edge portion 18 to the cover member 4 adjacent but inwardly of fold line 12, the inserted sales slips will be secured within the mailing piece and not lost in the mail.

While a limited number of embodiments have been shown and described herein, the. invention is not limited thereto but encompasses all modifications falling fairly within the scope of: the appended claim.

I claim:

A blank of sheet material adapted to be folded to define an integral mailing, device having a front panel and a back panel sealed to each other to define a mailing envelope and withaseparableinner structure positioned between said panels and integral therewith, said blank comprising: a generally rectangular sheet of material, a narrow sealing zone extending across said sheet adjacent and. parallel to one edge thereof, a. layer of, adhesive material covering said sealing; zone, first and second spaced imperforate score. lines. parallel. to and inwardly of said one edge, the distance between said firstv score line and said, one edge being about one-half the distance between said second score; line and said one edge, first, second,. and third spaced; parallel rows of perforations. extending across said sheet. parallel to said second score line and on, the. side thereof; opposite said first score line with. said; first row of perforations spaced from said: second score line a distance substantially equal. to the. width of said: sealing. zone, said. third row of perforations; being spaced from. but adjacent another edge of. said: blank: opposite; said one edge, a layer of adhesive material between said third row of perforations and said other edge, the: distance between said other edge and: said; second row' of perforations. being substantially equal to the distanceibetween said first and second rows of perforations, and; the distance between said second score line: and; said second row of perforations being no greater. than the: distance between said score. lines.

References Cited in the file of. this patent UNITED: STATES PATENTS 

